It was a big night for local incumbents as Rep. Susan Williams Gifford and Sen. Marc Pacheco both defeated their opponents in an election night marked by a remarkable 53-percent turnout.

Wareham resident Williams Gifford watched returns at the Gateway Tavern amidst supporters, and the Republican received the news that she would return for a fourth term at about 9:30 p.m.

Williams Gifford garnered 4861 votes while her challenger David Smith, also a Wareham resident tallied 2889 votes.

"It's a great victory, said Williams Gifford.  "I'm honored to be reelected to serve the 2nd Plymouth District for another two years."

Challenger David Smith expressed disappointment in the results.

"I started this process with the belief that an open and, fair minded, working person who had no attachments or obligations to anyone or Party, could win the respect and confidence of the voter of this district," Smith said.  "I now know that I didn't have enough money or connections to overcome the fear that most of the voters had for change."

Nevertheless, he expressed optimism in "hope at the end of the tunnel."

"After all 34% of the voters did see me as an alternative to the "keep things as they are" way of thinking.  With education and persistence perhaps next time voters will come around."

He said he wished to thank those voters as well as all the people who helped him during the process...most of all his wife Jayne.

"Thanks to all of you."

Incumbent State Senator for 1st Plymouth and Bristol Marc Pacheco (D-Taunton) won reelection over Taunton City Councilman David Poittier.   Closer than Williams Gifford's victory but decisive nonetheless, Pacheco had 4566 votes to Pottier's 3185 in Wareham.

Williams Gifford said that she felt the victory was helped by the large turnout experienced in the state as well as nationwide.

But Wareham, like most of Massachusetts, bucked the national trend of voting for new blood in politics. Incumbents Martha Coakley for Attorney General, William F. Galvin for Secretary of State, Barney Frank for Fourth District Representative in Congress, and Timothy J. Cruz for District Attorney were all victorious in Wareham, as in the state.

For open seats, Wareham's votes were contrary to the statewide results, but more in tune with national Republican sentiment.  Wareham narrowly favored Republicans Karyn Polito over Democrat Steve Grossman for Treasurer, 3887 to 3841, and Mary Z. Connaughton over Suzanne Bump for Auditor, 3664 to 3476.  Grossman and Bump, however, were elected.

And in the biggest race of the night, Wareham favored Republican challenger Charlie Baker for Governor over incumbent Deval Patrick.  Patrick, however, had a strong showing in urban areas and Western Massachusetts which sent him back to the State House for a second term.

Wareham had 8,067 voters turn out for the election, representing 53% of registered voters, according to the Town Clerk's Office.

On the ballot questions, Wareham decisively favored repealing the sales tax on alcohol by a margin of 4826 to 2912.  It narrowly advocated rejecting changes to amend the current state process for allowing a comprehensive permit for low- or moderate-income housing, 3759 to 3738.  Wareham also favored reducing the sales and use tax to 3 percent by a margin of 4011 to 3770.  Only the repeal of the sales tax on alcohol was approved by the state.